A NEW MUSEUM WILL MAKE THE AUGUSTINIAN SISTERS’ HERITAGE ACCESSIBLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Le Monastère des Augustines unveils its museum concept

La Fiducie du patrimoine culturel des Augustines applauds today’s announcement of the final concept for the museum of Le Monastère des Augustines. This announcement is an important step in the development of the ambitious project initiated by the Augustinian Sisters to group in a single site the outstanding cultural heritage of the 12 monastery hospitals they founded in Québec. This heritage will be accessible to the general public when the museum opens in summer 2015.

The legacy of the Augustinian Sisters: a heritage to be preserved

The Augustinian Sisters of Québec have created a social trust to which they are transferring the ownership and protection of 40,000 collector’s items and one linear kilometre of archives and old books from their monasteries. This transfer, which has been under way for several months now, will continue gradually over the next few years. Already, a top notch museum reserve is ready to house the artifacts, and an archival centre is being laid out during the rehabilitation of the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec monastery.

Le Monastère des Augustines is a non-profit organization (NPO) that is responsible for the operations and activities that will take place in the historic wings of the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec monastery. This NPO will welcome visitors and showcase the Augustinian Sisters’ important heritage, particularly through the permanent exhibition at the museum.

“The concept unveiled today for the museum’s permanent exhibition is innovative in its approach and, above all, pays tribute to the commitment and courage of this community of Augustinian Sisters, which was the first to provide health care in this country”, explained Marcel Barthe, Chair of the Fiducie.

A social mission at the heart of culture

By entrusting their heritage to La Fiducie du patrimoine culturel des Augustines, the Augustinian Sisters are not only ensuring that it will be protected, but also hope that it will become a source of well-being by revealing to visitors the commitment of those who looked after the population in the past and continue to do so today. The sisters would like this experience to be accessible to all, regardless of their circumstances. Through private donations and revenues from the Monastère’s accommodation facilities and holistic health programs, La Fiducie du patrimoine culturel des Augustines will help low-income earners and school groups take part in the Monastère’s activities. Such efforts are in keeping with the traditional mission of the Augustinian Sisters and their commitment to serving the population as a whole for the past 375 years.